美國聯邦總務署（GSA）署長墨菲（見圖）強調，GSA不會認證或確定總統勝選者，啟動過渡程序的決定是基於「事態發展」，而總統大選真正的勝選者，將由憲法詳細規範的選舉程序來確定。（美聯社）
美國總統大選至今仍未宣布勝選者，而現任總統川普也正在進行法律訴訟，原先拒不啟動過渡程序，被民主黨痛批「卡登」的美國聯邦總務署（GSA）署長墨菲（Emily
Murphy）最終在23日致函拜登，通知拜登團隊可準備啟動正式的政權移交過程。
起初外界認為此舉如同川普默認拜登勝選，但墨菲在過渡通知函上強調，GSA不會認證或確定總統勝選者，啟動過渡程序的決定是基於「事態發展」，而總統大選真正的勝選者，將由憲法詳細規範的選舉程序來確定。以下為該封通知信的中文翻譯內容：
2020年11月23日
致尊敬的小約瑟夫·R·拜登
1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
親愛的拜登先生：
身為美國總務署長，我基於在1963年修訂的《總統交接法》，有權力提供相關的資源與服務，在總統大選後協助總統進行交接工作，參見《美國法典》第3卷102條的注釋（《總統交接法》）；我嚴肅的擔任這個角色，由於近期關於法律挑戰與選舉結果認證的事態發展，我在今天將這封信轉遞給您，以便向您提供相關的資源與服務。
我成年後，將大部分的時間奉獻在公共服務上，而且也一直努力做正確的事；請注意，我是依據法律以及現有的獨立事實所做出決定，我的決策與時機均未受到任何行政官員（包括白宮以及GSA）的直接或間接壓力，明確來說，我並未收到任何要求延誤決定的指示；然而，我確實收到透過網路、電話與信件，針對我、我的家人及員工，甚至是我的寵物的安全威脅，藉此迫使我過早做出這個決定；但即使麵對成千上萬的威脅，我也始終致力於捍衛法律。
與媒體的報導及影射所相反的是，我的決定並非出於恐懼或偏袒；與之相反，我堅信該法規是要求GSA署長「確定」（ascertain），而非「強行確立」（impose）顯而易見的總統當選者；然而不幸的是，《總統過渡法案》並沒有為總統過渡製定程序或標準，因此我參考過去的選舉中，所涉及法律質疑和不完整計票的事件尋找先例；
GSA不會判定法律爭議與重新計票的結果，也不會判定這類的法律訴訟是否合理與正當，這些問題應是由美國憲法、聯邦法律和州法，移交給選票認證程序以及具有管轄權的法院去判決，我認為負責改善聯邦採購與財產管理的機構，不應將自身置於憲法所規範的選舉程序之上；我強烈敦促國會考慮對《總統交接法》進行修正。
如您所知，GSA署長不會選定或認證總統選舉的勝選者，相反的是，根據《總統過渡法案》，GSA局長的權力行使範圍反而相當狹窄：提供與總統過渡期有關的資源和服務；如上所述，由於最近的事態發展涉及法律挑戰和選舉結果認證，我決定您可以使用《總統交接法》第3節中所規範的選後資源和服務；而總統大選真正的勝選者，將由憲法詳細規範的選舉程序來確定。
根據《總統交接法》第七節以及2020年10月1日的《公共法》第116-159號規定，將提供直到2020年12月11日為止的持續撥款，為您提供630萬整美元（約1.79億新台幣）以用於執行《總統交接法》第3節的內容；此外，根據《公共法》第116-159號規定，授權撥款100萬美元（約2849萬新台幣），用於新任命官員的介紹會以及編寫過渡指南；僅在此提醒您，《總統交接法》第6節規範您有進行申報的義務，以此作為從GSA得到服務與資金的條件。
如果還需要任何幫助，請聯繫聯邦過渡協調專員瑪麗·吉爾伯特女士（Ms. Mary D. Gibert）。
謹上
艾蜜莉·W·墨菲
署長
美國總務署
美國聯邦總務署（GSA）署長墨菲致函給拜登的過渡公文。（圖擷取自《NBC》）
美國聯邦總務署（GSA）署長墨菲致函給拜登的過渡公文。（圖擷取自《NBC》）
以下為該封通知信的英文原文內容：
November 23, 2020
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dear Mr. Biden:
As the Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, I
have the ability under the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, as
amended, to make certain post-election resources and services
available to assist in the event of a presidential transition. See
3 U.S.C. § 102 note （the “Act”）. I take this role seriously and,
because of recent developments involving legal challenges and
certifications of election results, am transmitting this letter
today to make those resources and services available to you.
I have dedicated much of my adult life to public service, and I
have always strived to do what is right. Please know that I came to
my decision independently, based on the law and available facts. I
was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch
official—including those who work at the White House or GSA—with
regard to the substance or timing of my decision.To be clear, I did
not receive any direction to delay my determination. I did,
however, receive threats online, by phone, and by mail directed at
my safety, my family, my staff, and even my pets in an effort to
coerce me into making this determination prematurely. Even in the
face of thousands of threats, I always remained committed to
upholding the law.
Contrary to media reports and insinuations, my decision was not
made out of fear or favoritism. Instead, I strongly believe that
the statute requires that the GSA Administrator ascertain, not
impose, the apparent president-elect. Unfortunately, the statute
provides no procedures or standards for this process, so I looked
to precedent from prior elections involving legal challenges and
incomplete counts. GSA does not dictate the outcome of legal
disputes and recounts, nor does it determine whether such
proceedings are reasonable or justified. These are issues that the
Constitution, federal laws, and state laws leave to the election
certification process and decisions by courts of competent
jurisdiction. I do not think that an agency charged with improving
federal procurement and property management should place itself
above the constitutionally-based election process. I strongly urge
Congress to consider amendments to the Act.
As you know, the GSA Administrator does not pick or certify the
winner of a presidential election. Instead, the GSA Administrator’s
role under the Act is extremely narrow: to make resources and
services available in connection with a presidential transition. As
stated, because of recent developments involving legal challenges
and certifications of election results, I have determined that you
may access the post-election resources and services described in
Section 3 of the Act upon request. The actual winner of the
presidential election will be determined by the electoral process
detailed in the Constitution.
Section 7 of the Act and Public Law 116-159, dated October 1, 2020,
which provides continuing appropriations until December 11, 2020,
makes $6,300,000 available to you to carry out the provisions of
Section 3 of the Act. In addition, $1,000,000 is authorized,
pursuant to Public Law 116-159, to provide appointee orientation
sessions and a transition directory. I remind you that Section 6 of
the Act imposes reporting requirements on you as a condition for
receiving services and funds from GSA.
If there is anything we can do to assist you, please contact Ms.
Mary D. Gibert, the Federal Transition Coordinator.
Sincerely,
Emily W. Murphy
Administrator
U.S. General Services Administration
華夏新聞|時事與歷史：總務署長墨菲致函拜登公文曝光 強調“不代表認證勝選者”